Former DU forward Scott McConnell (2000-04) of Colorado Springs has been named head coach and GM of the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. McConnell, 32, joined the Steel in October and was named interim head coach and GM in February.

McConnell didn’t play much at DU (six games) but he has been a terrific coach and executive. He has been an assistant coach for the USHL’s Indiana Ice and Des Moines Buccaneers, and video coach for the Wilkes-Barre Penguins of the AHL and Team USA during the recent World Junior Championship in Buffalo.

The DU hockey team will use a patchwork lineup against Sacred Heart and Dartmouth/Northern Michigan in the Dec. 28-29 Denver Cup at Magness Arena.

Linemates Tyler Ruegsegger and Rhett Rakhshani, part of the Pios’ Super Sophs Trio that includes leading-scorer Brock Trotter, will miss the annual holiday tournament to play for the U.S. World Junior Team in the World Junior Championship at the Czech Republic.

I spoke with coach George Gwozdecky on Monday and, given that he has just 13 forwards – and just 11 for the Denver Cup – he has two choices: go with seven defensemen and 11 forwards, or the typical six D and 12 Fs in unusual fashion.

DU is limited to taking 22 players on the road, and the two guys that have been the extra bodies have been defensemen Julian Marcuzzi and John Ryder. The 13th forward, recruited freshman walk-on Stephen Cunningham, hasn’t played.

George says he’ll play his best 20 players in the Denver Cup, and he hinted that since Marcuzzi and Ryder are among the top 22, they might get first crack at replacing Ruegsegger and Rakhshani.

If that’s the case, the Pios won’t go with eight D and 10 forwards, but instead have Marcuzzi and/or Ryder play up front.

You know, that’s not a bad deal. Marcuzzi, a junior, is a really good kid and Ryder, a freshman that was brought in late — after Keith Seabrook left for major-junior in the summer — is going to play a ton at D in the next three seasons.

It’ll be nice to get them in back-to-back games.

So I view the World Junior duty thing as a plus for everyone affiliated with the local program. Might be different if DU was scheduled to play a national power, but that’s not the case. — MC